The Coronavirus pandemic has been tough on everyone. According to the Office for National Statistics, in June 2020, one in five adults (19.2%) were likely to experience a form of depression during the pandemic. This had almost doubled from around 1 in 10 (9.7%) before the pandemic.

According to Mind mental health problems have been on the up for a while, stating that people with common mental health problems went up by 20% between 1993 to 2014, and those reporting severe mental health symptoms in any given week rose from 7% to 9%.

Obviously, the pandemic has increased a lot of mental health issues, however, the effects of the pandemic are predicted to increase the numbers over the next two years.

With stresses and anxieties high, it is more and more important to keep in touch with employees and check on their wellbeing. 

How can identecoHR help you?

Whilst tracking an employee’s absence you can identify if an employee could be having some troubles with mental health. With our software, you can set reminders for return to work interviews where you and an employee can sit together privately and discuss any mental health issues that could be going on.

Within these meetings, you can also start a mental health plan, where you can support your employee as they get the help they need. Follow up meetings can also be arranged to check-in and see how the employee is doing and if they need further help.

It is important that employees feel supported when struggling with mental health, it can be a very lonely and isolating experience. Feeling like you are cared for and understood is incredibly helpful.

If you are reading this and you are currently going through mental health, please do seek some help, speak to someone and don’t suffer in silence.

References:

Mind Charity: How common are mental health problems? Mental health facts and statistics

The Office for National Statistics: People, population and community, well-being: Coronavirus and depression in adults, Great Britain: June 2020